Inmate enters no plea on charge of kidnapping guard

A prison inmate who allegedly took a guard hostage in the country's toughest prison has briefly appeared in court.

The man, 46, was given name suppression and did not plead when he appeared in North Shore District Court on a charge of kidnapping the guard last Friday.

The three-hour drama ended when armed police stormed a store room in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo, on Auckland's North Shore, and released the woman unharmed.

Today, the man stood in white overalls before Judge Barbara Morris and said nothing before he was remanded in custody until later this month.

Further charges were expected to be laid.

The man was flanked by two security guards with a third behind him and a police office near the dock for his appearance, which lasted about four minutes.

Judge Morris said the man's name would be suppressed until he could instruct a lawyer.

For his appearance today a duty solicitor appeared after only brief instruction.

- NZPA